Now for business! After a ‘crazy’ week, new Boston Town manager Lori Borbely is ready for action

Duncan Browne

“It’s been a bit crazy,” says Lori Borbely, hanging up a call and returning his mobile phone to his jacket pocket.

“I have a busy life as it is with my professional work. But since this has been announced my phone’s gone crazy.

Lori Borbely.

“I enjoy it. Being a director of the club, I already get calls from players, managers, club members and also fans who want to talk about the game on Saturday.

“But this is very different.”

The announcement Borbely mentions is the news that he has just become Boston Town’s latest manager, following the resignation of Dan Barrett after last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Long Buckby - and things have suddenly got a lot more hectic as he looks to strengthen his squad and gather advice from more experienced figures in the game.

“It was a bit of a shock,” the 33-year-old continued when asked whether he had any idea that his former boss would be stepping down.

Lori Borbely.

“For me personally, I was upset as I got on well with him. We were starting to build a top 10 side.”

But now it is Borbely - the Poachers’ player-director who adds the caretaker manager role to his CV for a third time - who will have the task of building upon those three points earned against the Bucks as Town host Desborough at the DWB Stadium this afternoon (KO 3pm).

And it is an opportunity he is thoroughly looking forward to.

“It is a challenge. I can’t wait to see how it will go,” continued Borbely, who is no stranger to the workings of the Tattershall Road club after 10 unbroken seasons with the Poachers.

“For me it is nothing new, everything is there.

“With my role at the club, I’ve been very much in touch with the managers and their problems and their needs.

“I knd of know what’s coming. I know what I expect from my team, and I know where we can be as a team.

“Obviously, it is a challenge and the Boston Town job - since Bob left - has seemed to be a bit of a challenge for everyone.”

Indeed, it was Bob Don-Duncan who first brought the Romanian to Town in the summer of 2005.

Borbely had hoped to join the club the previous season, but couldn’t force his way into a settled side. Instead, he joined Deeping Rangers - until one good performance and a goal against Boston earned him the move.

Don-Duncan remains a manager who Borbely looks up to, and his 19 years in the Poachers’ dug-out is something Town want to replicate with their next appointment.

Today Borbely will become the club’ sixth manager in the four years since his former mentor’s departure, and it is still to be decided whether or not he wishes to take the role on a permanent basis.

The past 48 months have seen a procession of bosses, beginning with Martyn Lakin, Phil Jones and the joint-pairing of Ian Dunn and Matt Hocking. Then came Nathan Collins and Barrett, both of whom have been in charge during the present campaign.

After briefly filling in as manager twice before, Borbely has not ruled out throwing his hat into the ring if things go well for the rest of the season.

However, chairman Mick Vines has confirmed that at least three experienced candidates have already shown an interest in taking over the reins.

“Bob had 19 years as manager so he deserves all our respect,” added the new Town boss, who says he has picked up tips from all those managers who have since been and gone.

“Simply holding that down was a huge achievement, and I think he needs a bit more praise than what he gets.

“He left and it’s been a bit of a transitional period for the club. With that manager we had a lot of stability, a lot of players knew him and knew what he was capable of, what he expects from you.

“I was there with Bob, Martyn Lakin, Ian Dunn and Matt Hocking, again with Nathan Collins and Dan Barrett.

“I think I’ve learned from all of them a little. I think I’ve taken good things from all of them.”

However, Borbely does have his own methods too, and there’s a little piece of back home he wants to deliver to Town.

“I love the passing game, I love keeping the ball,” he said. “I have a European background, so I’ll probably encourage that more now I’m stepping in.

“It’ll be hard, I know that as I’ve been involved in the club. But I hope I can get something happening here. We want to bring back the good days, that’s the actual aim.”

Even if Borbely’s managerial stint ends in nine Saturdays from now, he believes he still has plenty to offer on the pitch, adding: “I’m still playing and I believe I can still offer something to the team playing-wise.

“But, I don’t know how it will pan out (as manager) yet. I’ll have to sit down with the board of directors and the chairman and talk things through.